Why is safe to send our kids to the Zoo but not to school?

The DoE has issued guidelines stating that it is safe to open Zoo’s but our children are still not able to get an education.  At what point do our children come first?

If the DoE say it is safe for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to return to school, following a strict set of guidelines to keep them safe, why is it NOT safe for the other years groups to return under the same guidelines?  We appreciate that all schools may not be able to accommodate the volume of additional pupils but if they are able to, why can’t they?

Having strictly followed the government guidelines Holme Grange School has been planning and is ready to welcome back its pupils in year groups 2 to 5 on a part time basis on Tuesday 16th June. This is following on from the successful return to school of pupils in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, two weeks ago.

Numerous changes have been implemented on site to ensure all government guidelines are adhered to including the construction of new outdoor classrooms, disinfectant fogging machines being used daily and grouping the children into small ‘pods’ of no more than 15 people to name but a few. All of these measures have ensured that all pupils and staff on site remain safe and well at all times.  

Pupils, staff and parents have all accepted and signed shared rules and responsibilities supporting these changes to ensure safety. All risk assessments have been carried out and approved by the insurance company and public liability has been passed, confirming Holme Grange School to be a SAFE environment for children and staff with these set of new measures in place .

The positive impact on the emotional and mental wellbeing of the children from being able to attend school for some of the remaining days of term is immeasurable.  The health and safety of our children is obviously paramount, but parents are reassured by the measures put in place (which go way beyond those mentioned above), that their children will be in an environment that is as safe as possible and that the school has sufficient space and facilities to allow increased numbers of pupils on site in a safe manner. 

With only three and a half weeks left of term and this academic year, time is of the essence. Every day that passes is a day being taken away from the children. To deny them the opportunity to return to a school which has the space, the facilities and measures in place to keep them safe is wrong when it would have such a positive impact on their emotional and mental well-being.

Please support us and be a voice to give our children the opportunity to return to school this term.